Welcome to Freelance Focus, dedicated to helping answer your questions about the freelance life. If you would like to submit a question about any aspect of freelancing -- from getting assignments and connecting with editors, to freelance contracts and tax issues for small businesses -- let me know. I’ll reach out to our network of writers and experts to find you the answer.

This week’s question comes from an aspiring freelance writer who wants to know how to write a query letter and what type of information she should include.

To find out, I turned to two of my favorite freelancers, who just happen to have different approaches to query letters.

Stacy Lipson, an independent journalist whose work has appeared in numerous national outlets, suggests starting off with an introduction for the editor. Include published clips, as well as clips that will be published in noteworthy publications.

Also, keep in mind the format of the outlet you are pitching. For example, a Web pitch should be written on the shorter side, while a print outlet can have a longer query letter.

Lipson also recommends double-checking for small grammatical errors, and keeping your notes as brief as possible. As for follow-up, wait 2-3 weeks, depending on the timeliness of the query.

Heidi Russell, a 20-year veteran journalist who wrote for The Associated Press and regional newspapers before breaking out on her own as a freelancer, takes a different, less-conventional approach.

“Most writers and editors will tell you to fully develop one idea (including data and even quotes from potential story sources, etc.) and then blow them away with your in-depth knowledge of the subject matter,” says Russell. “I go for the opposite approach.”

When approaching editors of a publication for the very first time, Russell puts her research hat on and makes a list of the stories the magazine has done in the past year. She also studies the regular sections of the magazine (advice columns, etc.) to see if there are opportunities to break in with those smaller write-ups first.

She then sends a letter of introduction, including her website link, and asks the editor if they would entertain story pitches.

“If I get a response to that letter, it indicates the person is open to new freelancers. If the letter is ignored, I move on,” she says. “There's no sense in working hard on a query if it won't even be read or considered.”

If she does get the green light, she then spends about eight hours doing nothing but researching 8-10 topics or issues that might interest the publication. She then sends a list of those story ideas, each about one paragraph.

“I call this my ‘spaghetti against the wall’ approach,” says Russell. “You know -- throw a wad of spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks. Sometimes more than one ‘noodle’ will stick.”

For example, this past February, she pitched an editor with about 20 story ideas. She broke them up in three different emails, doing lists of ideas for three different sections in the magazine.

“So far, I've received six from that time and effort,” says Russell. “I'd say that was worth it.”

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a ProfNet query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, or search the more than 50,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect by keyword, institution type and geographic location. Both are free!

Being a freelance writer can be rewarding: You can work from home, make your own schedule, and choose your clients. But it also comes with its own unique challenges: how to find work, the ins and outs of contracts, tax issues for small businesses, and many other issues they don’t necessarily address in journalism school.

Whether you are new to freelancing or have numerous bylines under your belt, I’m sure there is a question you would like to pose to your fellow freelancers. So ask away! Drop me a line and I’ll do my best to get it answered.

Here are some of the questions we’ve already addressed:

• How to get started in freelancing
• Non-writing skills for writers
• The benefits of attending conferences
• How to pitch a humor column
• How to pitch a how-to/informational column
• How to keep up with industry news
• How to keep sources organized
• Tax planning for freelancers
• Pinterest for writers

To submit a question, email me at maria.perez@profnet.com or DM me on Twitter (@profnet). Please let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous.

Thanks, and happy freelancing!

Welcome to Freelance Focus, dedicated to helping answer your questions about the freelance life. If you would like to submit a question about any aspect of freelancing -- from getting assignments and connecting with editors, to freelance contracts and tax issues for small businesses -- let me know. I’ll reach out to our network of writers and experts to find you the answer.

This week’s question comes from a freelance writer who wants to know more about Pinterest:

“Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest. That’s all I ever hear about these days. What the heck is it and how can I, as a writer, use it to promote myself and my work? Is it worth the time investment?”

For those not familiar with it, Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows users to share images of things they like. Users can either upload their own pictures or “pin” something from a website. Then, anyone who “follows” the user’s board can view and “repin” the images on their own boards, and anyone who follows them can see and repin the images on their boards, and so on.

When a user clicks on a pinned image, he/she is redirected to the website where the original image is located. For example, if you click on a pin featuring an Ann Taylor sundress, you will be redirected to the page on the Ann Taylor website that features the dress. Because of this, retailers, hotels, tourism boards, and even b-to-b companies are using Pinterest as a way to drive traffic to their website and promote their products and services.

But Pinterest is not just for companies. Many writers are also taking advantage of the viral nature of Pinterest to help build buzz for their work.

To find out how, we turned to Susanna Speier, a digital journalist who has written for Nature, Denver Post, Newsweek/The Daily Beast, Scientific American and Huffington Post. Speier mostly writes about science and culture, and occasionally covers sustainable initiatives in the fashion, travel and beauty industries.

Speier recently wrote an article on Nature.com on how Pinterest can help science writers and communicators. She sat down with us (virtually, of course) to tell us a bit about how she is using Pinterest as a writer.

ProfNet: I really enjoyed your board in support of your Denver Post article on the Titanic's 100th anniversary. Once you created the board, how did you go about promoting it?

Speier: Thanks! The board was actually something I used to promote two articles. I built it after posting the first article and used it to promote it while researching, writing and eventually promoting the second article.

The differences between the two articles were astonishing. The first was the most popular story on the blog for maybe a couple of days, and the second stuck to the top of the "most popular in terms of view" list for almost a week. I don’t know for certain whether that was because of Pinterest, but it certainly didn't hurt.

The board now has more than 350 followers, and gets new followers and repins every day. It’s a lot of ongoing exposure for a couple of articles that were posted over a month ago.

ProfNet: It's easy to see how a writer about fashion or beauty can use Pinterest, but what about articles that don't necessarily lend themselves to images, like science or personal finance articles?

Speier: Industries with visual products are the early adapters, and the other industries are slow to adapt because they don't realize that the way to enter a visual platform is not through literal representation but through metaphor and innuendo. It’s a perpendicular relationship to the topic, not a parallel one. I come from a theater/film background and am accustomed to working this way. Products with strong visual components can, of course, be literally represented on Pinterest, but that approach is limiting.

ProfNet: Tell us about your Nature.com article and the board you created to support it.

Speier: My Nature.com article was about how scientists and science communicators can use Pinterest, and I spent about a week analyzing pins, boards and patterns prior to commencing. When I did, the metaphor just fell into place. I compared Pinterest to Alfred Russel Wallace's Cabinet of Specimens. It was such perfect fit; it was like placing the remaining piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Everything just fit together so elegantly. I even wove Darwin's beetle board into it. After publishing the article, I read an article mentioning Ben Silbermann [founder of Pinterest] used to collect bugs as a kid. I checked out his Twitter stream and, sure enough, he had responded to a bug board posted by the Getty Museum with a mention of his childhood bug-collecting hobby, so the idea really came full circle.

ProfNet: How did readers respond to the Nature.com piece?

Speier: Readers shared the article on Twitter and Facebook, followed and repinned the Pinterest board, and commented on the article. NASA Headquarters got permission to run it in their newsletter earlier this week, and a lot of scientists and science writers tell me that reading the article enabled them to finally grasp what Pinterest was actually about.

ProfNet: Have you seen an increase in readership since you've started using Pinterest?

Speier: The Nature.com article remains at the top of the blog's "most viewed" and "most commented on" list. It has been this way for 17 days, and I don't recall something like this happening with any of my previous articles. Although many have hit the top of the most viewed list, it generally can only maintain that for half a week. Nothing like this has ever happened before. I don't have the data to say for certain whether or not that was due to the Pinterest board -- the Nature.com editors have done an amazing job of promoting it -- but the board certainly didn't hurt. And unlike the Titanic board, the board that supplements the Nature.com article is updated daily with new Pinterest tips for science writers, and the ideas in the article continue to evolve and develop on Pinterest.

[Check out Speier’s Poynter article analyzing which newsrooms are using Pinterest to engage effectively with readers, and the Pinterest board she created to supplement the article.]

ProfNet: What is your advice for writers interested in taking the plunge on Pinterest?

Speier: The main thing to remember is that Pinterest is a visual social media tool and writing is made of letters, words and sentences. Do it visually, and use the text to supplement the visuals. What Liz Heron, Brian Aguilar and Emily Steel are doing with the Wall Street Journal's Pinterest boards is a great example of this.

ProfNet: Thanks, Susanna! So, readers, how do you use Pinterest to promote your work? Share your best tips below.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a ProfNet query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, or search the more than 50,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect by keyword, institution type and geographic location. Both are free!

Welcome to Freelance Focus, dedicated to helping answer your questions about the freelance life. If you would like to submit a question about any aspect of freelancing -- from getting assignments and connecting with editors, to freelance contracts and tax issues for small businesses -- let me know. I’ll reach out to our network of writers and experts to find you the answer.

This week’s question comes from a part-time freelancer:

"I made just under $2,000 last year doing freelance editing for an academic journal. When I entered it into TurboTax, the amount I owe shot up by $700! (What I call 'freelance' is called 'contract work' by the journal and 'self-employment' by TurboTax.) I may do some work for another outfit this year as well, but I shudder to think what the tax bite will be. Is this just the fate of freelancers, or is there something I can do about it?"

We turned to two tax experts from the ProfNet community for help:

"It's sad but true -- $2,000 of self-employment income can easily make your tax bill shoot up by $700 or more," said Sally Herigstad, CPA, a columnist for CreditCards.com.

You can blame part of this on self-employment tax, which is basically a tax for Social Security and Medicare.

Megan Pratt, CPA, an accountant with Rea & Associates, explains:

“When an employer pays wages to an employee, they also pay Social Security and Medicare tax for the employee. Self-employed people don’t pay those taxes, so are subject to the self-employment tax instead. Any self-employment income is taxed at a rate of 13.3 percent for the first $106,800 of income.”

In this freelancer’s case, self-employment tax means a loss of $266. But that’s not all. “If you're in the 25 percent bracket, meaning every additional dollar you earn is taxed at 25 percent, you'll pay another $500,” said Herigstad. “It's not exact, because your adjusted gross income affects so many things, from tax credits to medical deductions.”

So what can you do?

Besides leading a revolt on Washington, D.C., the first thing to do is to start planning ahead next time, said Herigstad: “When you price your editing work, figure about one-third of the gross amount goes to taxes, and make sure it's still worth the trouble. Then, as soon as you get the money, put it in a separate account, ready for tax day. If you make a substantial amount of money freelancing, you'll want to start making estimated tax payments to avoid penalties.”

Pratt also suggests looking at ways you can reduce your income taxes: “As a self-employed individual, you have one advantage over other employees -- the cost of your health insurance can reduce your income-tax liability. You can also invest in a traditional Individual retirement Account (IRA).Up to $5,000 can be deducted from income as long as it is invested in the IRA during the year.”

And don't forget to look for off-setting expenses. “Trade journals and books, seminars, office supplies, continuing education in your field -- we all have expenses,” said Herigstad. “Now that you know every dollar of deductible self-employment expense saves you about 33 cents in tax, you'll save those receipts!”

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a ProfNet query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, or search the more than 50,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect by keyword, institution type and geographic location. Both are free!

Welcome to Freelance Focus, dedicated to helping answer your questions about the freelance life. If you would like to submit a question about any aspect of freelancing -- from getting assignments and connecting with editors, to freelance contracts and tax issues for small businesses -- let me know. I’ll reach out to our network of writers and experts to find you the answer.

This week’s question is from a freelancer who wants to know the best way to keep sources organized. I asked a few ProfNet users to share how they do it, and the responses were surprisingly old-school: The most popular way to keep track of expert sources seems to be using email folders.

Eva Rosenberg (aka TaxMama) keeps separate folders in her email client. “I can store the entire history of my conversation with each source and link to documents and articles.”

Jackie Silver of Aging Backwards also utilizes email to keep track of conversations, and gives folders names to make it easier to find sources at a glance.

Rachel Weingarten, a columnist for MintStyle, takes it a step further by setting up separate email accounts for all of her research. For example, she uses rachelprofnet@gmail.com for her ProfNet requests, and has different email addresses on her websites, Twitter, etc. “This way, I have a clear idea of how people find me. So when I tell people I get cranky if they add me to their distribution lists, I literally know when they added me to their lists and with which email address.”

Rachel also uses keywords when saving documents. So, if she’s working on a story about confidence for her MintStyle column, she will use “MintStyle,” “confidence” and her sources’ names as keywords.

She also creates individual folders on her computer for all clients. She has a main folder labeled “2012,” with sub-folders for all clients within it. Within each of those sub-folders, she has her stories, and within those, she keeps individual documents for all sources. If a source impresses her greatly, she will also add them to folders she has labeled with names like “Interview again,” and “Use as a resource for X, Y, Z.”

“This way, I know if I like them and want to work with them again,” she added.

Freelance writer Dawn Papandrea takes a similar strategy, keeping a folder in Word for each article she writes. Each folder contains the article she wrote, the source sheet, each source interview, and any other materials (photos, etc.). “I'm pretty good at remembering whom I spoke to for what, so if I have to get in touch with someone, it's all right there in the article folder.”

Dawn keeps similar folders set up in her email program, so she can easily scan to find a contact's email address. In addition, she also keeps a folder for sources she didn’t get to use but who might be good for future stories.

ProfNet editor Grace Lavigne uses Word to keep track of the multiple sources she uses in her Dear Gracie column: “When someone emails me their insight, I put the text into a document with their name and credentials highlighted in red, with the text underneath in black. I continue adding additional experts’ thoughts to the same document in the same way. Once I've collected all of the experts I need, I open a new Word document and start writing up the article based on my notes. This helps me keep sources and attributions organized as I collect information over several days.”

Suddenly Frugal’s Leah Ingram, who writes for various publications, says she files certain helpful PR people in her email program. When she needs to get in touch with them, she’ll use the email search function to look for a client name or some other identifying feature. “I used to have a Rolodex,  but no more.”

If you use ProfNet Connect to find experts, you can also create lists of sources. When you find an expert you like, click on the “Add to List” button. You can send a message to everyone on the list at the same time. So, if you have a list of “Nutrition Experts” saved, you can email questions to the entire list any time you need nutrition sources. Check out our ProfNet Connect Help Forum for step-by-step instructions on how to create and add to a list.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a ProfNet query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, or search the more than 50,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect by keyword, institution type and geographic location. Both are free!